Government Condemns Violence during CPI(Maoist) Bandh

(PIB NEWS) The CPI (Maoist) has called a 48 hour ‘bandh’ since yesterday in the States of Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra ( three districts) and Madhya Pradesh ( one district). They have indulged in violent incidents targeting public property and innocent people. In West Bengal, Maoists blasted a railway track near Godapiashal railway station in West Midnapore district. In Orissa, CPI (Maoist) cadres caused two blasts along the Howrah-Mumbai trunk route in Bisra PS area, causing derailment of a goods train and exploded a bomb near a railway level crossing in K. Balang PS area, both in Sundergarh district. In Bihar, Maoists exploded can bombs between Kastha and Paraiya railway stations, district Gaya, causing damage to 2-3 feet of railway track leading to derailment of nine bogies of the Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express in which seven passengers sustained minor injuries in the intervening night of March 22-23. In West Bengal, suspected CPI (Maoist) cadres cut off the overhead electrical wire between Sordiha and Khatkura railway stations in district West Midnapore, causing disruption in railway traffic. It is clear that the CPI( Maoist) are not serious about their pronouncement of stopping violence and having a meaningful dialogue with the Government of India on various issues. Such acts of violence which target innocent people, disturb normal life and damage public property expose true character of CPI (Maoist). Government of India strongly condemns such mindless acts of violence and terrorism and hope that all right thinking people will condemn such violence.
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PM inaugurates Conference on Building Infrastrcuture: Challenges and Opportunities

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at the conference on Building Infrastructure: Challenges and Opportunities, in New Delhi on March 23, 2010.The Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri Kapil Sibal, the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Agriculture, Shri Sharad Pawar and the Union Power Minister, Shri Sushilkumar Shinde are also seen. (Photo by PIB No.CNR-30927)
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(PIB NEWS) The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated the Conference on Building Infrastructure : Challenges and Opportunities in New Delhi today. Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s address on the occasion: “It gives me great pleasure to inaugurate this conference on the challenges and opportunities of building infrastructure. I addressed the first such conference at this very venue three and a half years ago in the year 2006. A great deal has happened since then, much of it very positive. I am very happy to be here once again to speak on this issue, which is extremely relevant to our economic future. India’s recent economic performance has been commendable on many counts. The economy grew at an average annual rate of about 9% before the global economic meltdown. It slowed down in 2008 because of the global crisis which continued into 2009, when it was compounded by a severe drought the country faced. Despite these adverse circumstances, our economy grew by 6.7% in fiscal year 2008-09, and it has accelerated to 7.2% in the fiscal year which is about to end in a few days time. These rates are well above those seen in the developed worlds, and reflect the underlying strengths of our economy. We expect to achieve 8.5% growth rate in the year 2010-11 and I hope we can achieve a growth rate of 9% in the year 2011-12. I believe that we need to do even better. For eliminating poverty and providing productive employment for our young population in the near future, we must aim at accelerating the pace of economic growth to about 10% per annum. This is the growth target which we should work towards for the Twelfth Five Year Plan. A growth rate of 10% looks ambitious but it is not impossible. It has been achieved by other emerging economies in Asia. However, it is not something that will happen automatically. We would need continual improvements in our policy regime and in our implementation procedures. Later today, I will be reviewing these issues in a meeting of the full Planning Commission to discuss the Mid Term Appraisal of the Eleventh Five Year Plan. For now, I will focus only on infrastructure development and what it requires in the years that lie ahead. Let me begin by clarifying that when I say infrastructure, I do not mean only infrastructure for the modern part of our economy. For truly inclusive growth, we need to meet the infrastructure needs of the whole country. Infrastructure must therefore be defined broadly to include highways and roads of all kinds including rural roads, railways, air and water transport, irrigation, electric power, telecommunications, water supply and sewerage system. The Eleventh Plan had estimated that we would need to invest over Rs.20 lakh crore in infrastructure over the five year period. This was more than double the realised investment during the Tenth Five Year Plan. The Plan also recognised that such a large investment in infrastructure could not be funded from public resources alone. This is because the government would have to necessarily devote a large portion of its own resources to critical livelihood support programmes and to providing access to education and health services which are crucial to ensuring inclusiveness of the growth process. The strategy for infrastructure development therefore involved combination of public investment supplemented by private investments wherever feasible. The mix was expected to vary from sector to sector, and also from region to region.
Our experience shows that private participation in infrastructure development is indeed a feasible proposition and can help expand infrastructure much faster than it would have relying only on public resources. The telecom sector is the most compelling example of this proposition. The Eleventh Plan target for tele-density was realised ahead of schedule, in the third year of the Plan itself. The addition of 1 crore subscribers every month with user charges among the lowest in the world, has really taken the communication revolution to the doorstep of the ‘aam aadmi’. We have also seen many successful PPP projects in roads, ports, airports and electric power. We need to do much more in these areas. The Central Government has developed a fairly robust framework for PPPs which balances the legitimate requirements of the investors and the needs of the users and also ensures transparency. Model documents have been developed for several sectors. Projects are awarded on the basis of competitive bidding and standardisation of documents and the bidding processes have contributed greatly to the promotion of transparency. One of the reasons why it is difficult to attract private investment in infrastructure is that all projects may not be able to generate adequate revenue streams. The projects may have high economic rates of returns but may not be financially viable. The Central Government has dealt with this problem by offering a capital subsidy which is competitively determined through the bidding processes. Since the capital subsidy is only a proportion of the total capital cost, government resources effectively leverage a large volume of private resources. This Viability Gap Funding arrangement can be accessed by state governments as well. The scheme has been received well and a large number of PPP projects have been approved under this scheme. I am happy to note that our states are now actively pursuing infrastructure projects, including through PPP arrangements. Some of the states have made notable progress in this area, while others are at earlier stages. The Finance Ministry and the Planning Commission are actively engaged with the state governments to help them in managing the PPP process. You will be hearing directly from my colleagues in charge of the various infrastructure sectors about developments in each sector. I will therefore only touch briefly on these. The power sector is crucial for fuelling the 10% growth we are aiming at. The capacity addition achieved already in the Eleventh Plan period is much higher than the achievement anytime in the past. But we have made less progress in this area than we should have. Power shortages remain a problem in many parts of our country. The distribution segment, which is entirely in the states sector, continues to be fragile. We are trying to tackle the problem of high Transmission & Distribution losses through a restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme which has just begun to roll out. We must also take steps to operationalise open access as early as possible to enable bulk consumers to buy electricity directly from competing producers so that a vibrant market is created where producers can invest for eliminating shortages and also reduce tariffs through competition. In the roads sector, we are very seriously working towards accelerating the road building programme in all parts of our country, especially the north-eastern states and the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Some changes have been made in the terms of concessions responding to stakeholder feedback, and with these changes we expect strong investor interest in PPP road projects. The Delhi-Mumbai and Ludhiana-Kolkata dedicated rail freight corridors are a transformative initiative of the Indian Railways. While much of the investment in the railways is necessarily in the public sector, PPPs have nevertheless been envisaged in many areas. Metro rail projects are being increasingly pursued in many cities, through various models including PPPs. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission is designed to bring in a quantum improvement in urban infrastructure. I would urge the states to actively identify and pursue the possibilities of PPP in all segments of urban infrastructure which require both expansion and upgradation. In civil aviation, Delhi and Mumbai airports are currently undergoing a complete transformation while airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore have already been completed and operationalised through PPP. The Airport Authority of India is also upgrading several of its airports including the two metro airports at Kolkata and Chennai. The government has also initiated an ambitious plan for expansion of the port sector, including through PPPs. Issues involving the logistics sector need to be seen in a holistic manner. We have constituted a High Level Committee under the chairmanship of Dr Rakesh Mohan to prepare an integrated plan for the development of the transport sector in our economy. I have already mentioned that our strategy of inclusiveness requires high priority to the social sectors, especially education and health. While these efforts will have to be primarily in the public sector, there may be merit in bringing in public private partnership in these areas as well. We need to work on PPP models in these sectors that are fully consistent with the objective of providing access to the underprivileged sections of our society. Effective private sector participation in infrastructure would require a large mobilisation of resources through our financial institutions. The Finance Ministry has taken several initiatives in this regard. Preliminary exercises suggest that investment in infrastructure will have to expand to $ 1000 billion in the Twelfth Five Year Plan. I urge the Finance Ministry and the Planning Commission to draw up a plan of action for achieving this level of investment. We also need to review the approach that should guide our regulatory institutions in different sectors. An Approach Paper on the subject was published by the Planning Commission after extensive consultations with experts and stakeholders. I have asked the Commission to prepare a draft bill outlining the next stage of regulatory reform. We would welcome the views of all stakeholders in this very important area. Finally, I must emphasise that a successful infrastructure development strategy depends crucially and critically on implementation. Both the Centre and the states have to give top priority to strengthen implementation capabilities. We have set up the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure to monitor progress in this area. I have asked the Planning Commission to engage in detailed consultations with each of the infrastructure ministries and come up with agreed targets of achievement for each Ministry, in order to identify slippages at early stages and take corrective action as necessary. I would urge the states to adopt similar tight monitoring so that we achieve the best possible outcome in the remaining two years of the present Eleventh Five Year Plan. With these words, I once again wish your deliberations all success.”
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79th Death Anniversary of BHAGWAT SINGH

AP state secretary of CPI Dr K. Narayana addressing a seminar on the ocassion of the 79th death anniversary of patriots Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and Sukh Dev at the Press Club, Basheer Bagh in Hyderabad on March 23,2010 .  (Photo by R.S.J.THOMAS)====================================================

Information Center for U.S. Study Opens at osmania university center international programes(OUCIP)

Osmania University Vice Chancellor T. Tirupati Rao and U.S.Consulate General Public Affairs Officer Juliet Wurr cut the ribbon toinaugurate the Satellite Information Center (SIC) at the Osmania University Center for International Programs (OUCIP) on Wednesday March 23, 2010. Also seen are Prof. T. Vijaykumar Vijay Kumar,Director OUCIP and United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF)Director Adam J. Grotsky (extreme right)   (photo by RSJ THOMAS)                ===============================       Hyderabad – Osmania University students and others from nearby institutions can now seek out information about study in the United States at the newly opened Satellite Information Center (SIC) at the Osmania University Center for International Programs. The center offers information about education in the United States.Osmania University Vice Chancellor T. Tirupati Rao cut the ribbon t the bright, comfortable and well equipped room inside OUCIP’s library,March 23, 2010.The SIC is affiliated to the United States-India EducationalFoundation (USIEF) whose Director Adam J.Grotsky was present tocelebrate the opening. U.S. Consulate General Public Affairs Officer Juliet Wurr, also present, noted that USIEF’s funding for the center came from the U.S. Department of State.The center’s goal is to provide accurate and free information aboutthe wide variety of educational institutions available to Indianstudents. The center, open six days a week and without cost, willoffer reference material on all aspects of higher education in theU.S. University directories, instruction booklets for applying to aU.S. university and study-guides and application forms for TOEFL,GMAT,GRE and SAT tests can be accessed.The center will be open from 10 am to 1 pm from Monday to Friday andfrom 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday. Interested students and theirguardians are invited to visit the center for information material. ======================================================

APUWJ RALLY AGAINST PRP,

Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists(APUWJ) gathering in front of Hyderabad Police comissionarate aganist Praja Rajyam Party(PRP) and demanding immediately arest Chiranjeevi,SSK HUSSAINI IQBAL Executive Member Of Hyderabad Union Of journalists(HUJ) also seen                          (Photo by R S J THOMAS)========================================================================

Praja Rajyam Party(PRP) activists attack ABN Andhra Jyothi office, 50 arrested

About 50 Praja Rajyam Party(PRP) activists were taken into custody today when they gate crashed into the office of the ABN Andhra Jyothi television channel here and attacked its staff members, in protest against a report allegedly tarnishing the party's image.The activists brandishing wooden logs stormed the office and damaged the window panes and furniture before the police intervened and restored order.The PRP activists were upset with the report that the party was facing a huge financial crunch and that its founder Chiranjeevi had even asked its district functionaries to make their own financial arrangements for running the party affairs.The irate activists tried to gatecrash into the newsroom, upset with a news report telecast by the television channel, even as private security guards prevented them from doing so, police said. The Banjara Hills police had registered a case in this connection.Both the ruling Congress as also opposition parties condemned the attack.
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Gas Availability Changing the Face of Industrial India: Murli Deora

(PIB NEWS) The challenge before the Indian economy is to raise the share of manufacturing sector in GDP from 16 per cent to 22 per cent in order to attain and sustain an annual GDP growth of 9 per cent, Mr. Anand Sharma, Union Ministry for Commerce and Industry, said here today.Inaugurating the 6th Asia Gas Partnership Summit, Mr. Sharma said that in order to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and high level of crude oil imports, gas will have to be the major energy source. Energy security was an imperative, he said, urging the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to adopt a consortium approach in bidding for overseas oil and gas projects.
“There is an urgent need to substantially augment the oil and gas exploratory efforts and improve the recovery rates,” the Minister said. He also said that while bio-fuels constituted an important segment of the renewable energy sources being developed by India, it was imperative to tread with caution and ensure that land for food grains production was not diverted to feed the bio-fuels sector. Mr. Murli Deora, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, informed the delegates that LNG infrastructure in the country was being expanded. The capacity of Dahej terminal has been doubled last year. The work at Kochi LNG terminal is underway. Dabhol terminal would be commissioned soon. “So the LNG regasification capacity in the country would reach a level of 20 mmtpa by the year 2011-12”, he informed. The Minister also informed about the major gas transport infrastructure additions underway in the country. He said that gas pipelines of 7450 Kms Length and 248 Million Standard Cubic Metre per day (MMSCMD) capacity would be added. The present natural gas transportation infrastructure in the country comprises around 10800 Kms. of pipelines with a capacity of around 270 MMSCMD. Shri Deora said that the increased availability of natural gas from KG basin is set to transform our city gas sector. Today, about 40 cities & towns are covered by CNG. “We intend to develop city gas in more than 200 more cities. Piped Natural Gas (PNG) in a greater number of big cities and metros would help us to divert LPG supplies to our rural areas,” Shri Deora said. Mr. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry, Qatar, underlined the need for reform in gas production, distribution and transportation. He stressed the critical importance of improving energy statistics, especially demand forecasts in the emerging developing countries. Of equal importance, he said, was the need to balance growth objectives with the need to protect the environment. Above all, there was the imperative of a continuous dialogue between gas producers and consumers to develop a better understanding. Mr. S. Sundareshan, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, spelt out the key challenges in the gas sector. One, the need to reach the gas pipeline network to every corner of the country as regional disparities loom large in gas distribution and two, the need to move to a situation where the domestic gas is available equitably at an almost uniform price irrespective of the source. He said that 50 per cent of the Indian population was today covered by the LPG connections. Over the decade India has built up a large refining capacity. Other prominent experts and CEOs from Oil and Gas Industry also spoke during the inaugural session.
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PIB signs contract with NBCC for Construction of the National Press Centre

The Additional Director General (M&C), PIB, Ms. Ira Joshi and the Director (Project), National Building Construction Corporation Ltd., Shri V.P. Dass signing an agreement for the construction of National Press Centre, PIB, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in New Delhi on March 22, 2010.                             (Photo By PIB No.CNR-30896)
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(PIB NEWS) The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has signed a contract today with National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) Ltd., for the construction of a new National Press Centre in New Delhi. Ms. Ira Joshi, Additional Director General (Admn.), PIB and Shri V.P. Dass, Director (Project), NBCC inked the contract to this effect in presence of Smt. Neelam Kapur, Pr. Director General, PIB. The new National Press Centre (NPC) will be a world class Press Centre with state of the art press conference hall, media briefing rooms, a large work area and lounge for the press, editing and other professional facilities, library etc. The existing Media Centre at first floor of Shastri Bhawan is increasingly becoming inadequate to accommodate the growing number of press correspondents accredited to the Government of India as well as to provide them other professional facility like work room for journalists, lounge, interviewing facilities for electronic media etc., at par with media centres in other countries. The work of construction has been awarded to NBCC Ltd. on ready to occupy basis at a cost of Rs. 60/- crore. The construction work is likely to commence at 7-E, Raisina Road, New Delhi in the first week of April, 2010 and would span over a period of 30 months.
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CM-Rosaiah moves to official residence after 'vaastu' changes

More than six months after taking over as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, K. Rosaiah Monday moved to the official residence-cum-camp office at Begumpet here after its refurbishment as per 'vaastu' traditions.Rosaiah, who had taken over as chief minister following the tragic death of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash on Sep 2 last year, entered the official residence at 8.46 a.m., the auspicious time fixed by vedic pundits. The 77-year-old leader will now discharge his duties from the ultra-luxury residence-cum-camp office, which was built and inaugurated by Rajasekhara Reddy in 2005. Rosaiah, who had been residing in his own house in Ameerpet area, moved only after the official residence was refurbished as per 'vaastu' traditions and advice by his family priests. The devastating floods that hit the state a month after YSR's death, the campaign by YSR's loyalists to make his son the chief minister and the state-wide agitation over the Telangana issue had delayed Rosaiah's plans to shift to the camp office. Accompanied by some of his cabinet colleagues, state Congress president D. Srinivas and other leaders, Rosaiah performed 'puja' before entering the building amid the chanting of vedic hymns by priests. Congress legislator Marri Sashidhar Reddy, who closely monitored the 'vaastu' alteration work, was also present. Ministers and Congress leaders had been requesting Rosaiah to move to the camp office in view of public and security conveniences. After assuming charge as the chief minister in 2004, YSR had got built the office-cum-residence and moved in on Jan 5, 2005 without any rituals. YSR continued performing his duties from the camp office till his death in a chopper crash. His son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy and other family members vacated the building a couple of months ago. (way2online)
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Thank God, we don’t have a Bal Thackeray in Delhi: Dikshit

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Saturday ridiculed Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray for attacking non-Marathis in Maharashtra and said that Delhi was truly cosmopolitan.“Thank God, we don’t have a Bal Thackeray! We have a truly cosmopolitan population. We have people from Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, from the northeast. Everybody who comes to Delhi finds it to be a very comfortable and warm place to live in,” said Dikshit.“There is no distinction here. What is happening in Mumbai certainly does not happen in Delhi,” she said.Speaking at the Asia Corporate Conference her, she said: “Delhi is a very unique city as nothing belongs to it. Even our weather is imported. If it snows somewhere we get the cold, if it does not rain somewhere, we get the heat. We get our water from outside and we also get our power from outside.” (way2online)
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I am a Public Relation chief minister, says Sheila Dikshit

Into her third consecutive term, Sheila Dikshit still considers herself a “PR (public relations) chief minister” having no control over police, civic agencies and land authority in the national capital.“I have the nomenclature of being a chief minister but I think I am more of a PR chief minister than a chief minister,” Dikshit said Saturday while speaking at the Asia Corporate Conference here.Her candid reply came when she was asked about problems she is faced with in heading the capital city.“The greatest problem is the multiplicity of authority. The federal government being in Delhi has its own advantages and very big disadvantages, as all the ministries want to have a say in Delhi,” she said.“I have to run from one ministry of government of India to other. I don’t have land with me, I need to ask for it, I need to buy it. I don’t have police with me, whenever people say that Delhi is not safe they blame me, they don’t know that I don’t have the police under me,” she added.

(way2online)
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Suspected explosive found on Kingfisher flight

A security alert was sounded at the airport here Sunday morning after a suspected explosive was found in the cargo compartment of a Kingfisher flight that arrived from Bangalore, police said.The Kingfisher flight from Bangalore arrived at 8.25 a.m. and a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) official found the suspected explosive, which is the size of a cricket ball, wrapped in a newspaper, said City Police Commissioner M.R. Ajith Kumar.“This was found in the cargo compartment and the official immediately took it up. It is a suspected explosive and investigations are on,” Kumar told reporters here.The aircraft has been cordoned off and security officials have reached the site, he said.“We are investigating into how this happened. Certainly this is a security lapse. The suspected explosive is now in the possession of experts and investigations will reveal what exactly it is,” Kumar added.  (way2online)
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World Forestry Day Celebrated

(PIB NEWS) The plantation programme and On the spot painting competition were organised here today to celebrate World Forestry Day. At National Zoological park, trees of Maulshree, Bottle brush, Jamun Gurbera and Neem species were planted by the officials of the Ministry of Environment and Forest. Addressing a gathering Dr. P. J Dileep Kumar, Director General, Forests appealed all, especially children, to consume less natural resources. He said more damage has been done to lives of rural and tribal people by mining and other activities. More use of water, exploitation of land and the cutting of trees for widening roads and other requirements have disturbed the balance of lives of wild animals and birds.He appealed to grow gardens as well as wild vegetations where ever possible. Mr. R. H. Khwaja, Special Sectretary, said, “We celebrate special days like this and forget them conveniently. If we had looked after our forests consistently,vegetation, animals and birds would have been in a much better situation today.” Mr. Khwaja regretted the mindless use of natural resources and suggested to take into account the carrying capacity , management and accounting of natural resources while planning, developmental and economic activities. If we do not protect forests, global warming will disturb the environment, he added. School children presented songs, play on the theme of protecting environment, planning trees and stop usage of plastic bags. On the Spot Painting competition was organised in the morning today. The subject of the painting competition was ‘Forests and Biodiversity’. First, second and third prizes were awarded to the winners in each category, that is age group of 5 -8 years, 9- 12 years and 13 -16 years of age.
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Concert in Rashtrapathi Bhawan,

The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil with the members of Louis Banks, Sivamani, Niladri Kumar and Hariharan after their concert, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on March 20, 2010.
The Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dikshit is also seen.
(Photo by PIB No.CNR-30890)

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Sonia keen on ensuring quota for Muslims: Rosaiah

Reiterating his government's commitment to ensure four per cent reservation for Muslim minorities in government jobs and educational institutions, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today said UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had assured all help to the state in clearing the legal hurdles.Addressing a meeting organised by the Pradesh Congress Committee at the Prakasam Hall in the Gandhi Bhavan, the Chief Minister said Ms Gandhi was very particular that the party stood by its poll promise to the minorities.The State Government had engaged best of advocates to argue the state's case before the Supreme Court, he said, adding the Government would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the quota for the backward among Muslim continued unhindered in the new academic year. ''If necessary, we will take the Centre's help to overcome the legal hurdles,'' he said and expressed the hope that the Apex Court would grant a stay on the order of the High Court which had quashed the relevant state law.Pradesh Congress President D Srinivas said the state Congress would take up with the party high command the need for amending the Constitution to ensure reservation for the backward among Muslim minorities. Steps would be taken early to ensure that the students did not lose the benefit of reservation in the new academic year, he said.The meeting was attended by, among others, State Government's political advisor and Congress Rajya Sabha member K V P Ramachandra Rao and former Minorities Welfare Minister Mohd Ali Shabbeer. (newkerala.com)
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BC united front & BC chaitanya, Protest against UPA Government,

BC united Front & BC Chaitanya Vedika members President P.Ramakrishaiah, V. Srinivas, Chengaiah Laxmi has burn the Effigies of UPA Chair Person Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against not providing Reservations to BC women in 33 percent women reservation Bill. This incident took place at Basheerbagh in front of Babu Jagjeevan Ram statue – (Photo By R S J Thomas.Hyd)======================================================

MPJ Demanded For Amendments Communal Violence Bill,

Movement for Peace and Justice (MPJ) representatives President Mr Hamid Mohammed Khan,Vice Presidents Ahmed Abdul Azeem, Khaja  moinuddin, Treasurer Hameeduddin Shakeel,Media Secretary Saleem Al Hindi demanded and written a letter to Central Home Ministor P.Chidambaram for Amendments in Communal Violence Bill 2009 In a press conference organized at Basheerbagh Press Club on Saturday. –                           (Photo By.RSJ Thomas)**********************************************************

PM condoles the passing away of Koirala, former PM of Nepal

(PIB NEWS) The Prime Minister has condoled the passing away of the former Prime Minister of Nepal Shri G.P.Koirala. In a condolence message to the departed leader’s daughter Kumari Sujata Koirala the Prime Minister described Shri G.P Koirala as one of Nepal’s tallest leaders and an elder statesman of South Asia.

The text of the Prime Minister’s condolence message is as follows: “It is with deep sadness that I learnt of the passing away of Shri G. P. Koirala. Shri Koirala was one of Nepal’s tallest leaders and an elder statesman of South Asia. Beginning with his days in the trade union movement, Shri Koirala spent his entire political life championing the cause of the people. He was first and foremost a democrat and his long struggle to usher in democracy in Nepal reached a successful conclusion when he became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Nepal in 1991. He subsequently guided the destiny of the people of Nepal for a further three terms as Prime Minister. Shri Koirala was a mass leader and a statesman, whose knowledge and wisdom guided the polity of Nepal in the right direction at critical junctures in the country’s history. The passing away of Shri Koirala marks the end of an era in Nepalese politics. Shri Koirala had an enlightened vision of India-Nepal relations and worked sincerely to bring the people of the two countries closer together. I have personally had a long association with Shri Koirala and have benefited immensely from his wise counsel and advice not only on issues affecting our bilateral ties but also on matters affecting South Asia as a whole. I convey my deepest sympathies and condolences to his family, friends and followers.”
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US Attorney General discusses headley issue with Chidambaram

(PIB NEWS) The US Attorney General yesterday discussed with the Union Home Minister, Shri P.Chidambaram various aspects relating to the plea agreement between Headley and the US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. In a statement issued here today, Shri Chidambaram said that the plea agreement should spur Pakistan to take action against all the conspirators of the 26.11 attacks. Following is the text of his statement. “Yesterday, at the media briefing, I tried to explain the import of the ‘plea agreement’ between David Coleman Headley and the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. Later in the evening, Mr. Eric Holder, Attorney General and Head of the Justice Department of the US Government, called me and we had a long conversation. I am happy to state that the conversation has clarified a number of aspects concerning the plea agreement. Mr Holder drew pointed attention to the following portion under the Chapter “Cooperation”: Defendant agrees that, when directed by the United States Attorney’s Office, he will fully and truthfully participate in any debriefings for the purpose of gathering intelligence or national security information. Defendant further agrees that, when directed by the United States Attorney’s Office, he will fully and truthfully testify in any foreign judicial proceedings held in the United States by way of deposition, video conferencing or letters rogatory. Defendant agrees to the postponement of his sentencing until after the conclusion of his cooperation.” It is my understanding that India would be able to obtain access to David Coleman Headley to question him in a properly constituted judicial proceeding. Such judicial proceeding could be either pre-trial or during an inquiry or trial. It is also my understanding that David Coleman Headley is obliged to cooperate fully and truthfully in such proceedings. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has already registered FIR No.4 dated 11.11.2009 against David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana. I have today directed NIA and the other Agencies concerned in the case to quickly prepare the documents necessary to start a judicial proceeding in which Indian Authorities could require David Coleman Headley to answer questions and/or to testify. There is another aspect of the “plea agreement” which is of enormous significance. The plea agreement is the most damning indictment of the role played by certain persons in Pakistan. In his plea agreement, David Coleman Headley has admitted to conspiring with LeT members A, B, C & D; he has admitted to meeting with and receiving instructions from them; he has admitted to attending training camps organised by the LeT on five separate occasions; he has admitted to meeting in Pakistan with various co-conspirators including but not limited to LeT members; and he has admitted to being privy to the attacks planned in Mumbai and the despatch of a team of attackers by sea. Pakistan was in a state of denial for many months after the attacks of 26/11. Thereafter, grudgingly and bowing to the pressure applied by India through the dossiers and otherwise, Pakistan initiated proceedings against a few of the persons involved in the conspiracy, even while key conspirators are still at large. The “plea agreement” should spur Pakistan to take action against all the conspirators and bring them to justice. Nothing short of that will be acceptable to India or will satisfy world opinion.”
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Shri Jairam Ramesh Briefing The Media,

The Minister of State for Environment and Forests (Independent Charge), Shri Jairam Ramesh briefing the media about the outcome of National Board for Wildlife meeting which was convened by the Prime Minister, in New Delhi on March 20, 2010. The Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Shri Vijai Sharma is also seen.                               (Photo by PIB No.CNR-30886)
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Watch Bollywood films to know Indians: Rani Mukerji

Cinema can go a long way in promoting positive bilateral relations between Australia and India, especially Bollywood films as they are “all about heart”, said Rani Mukerji, who was here as chief guest at the 2010 Indian Film Festival – Bollywood and Beyond.“Cinema showcases different cultures and Indian films are all about our culture, our traditions, human relations and all about heart. So when Australians watch Indian films, they will get to know Indians better and that will help in knowing each other better,” Rani said in an exclusive interview.
So will she act in a film on racism? “As an actor, I would be part of any film that inspires me as an artist. If there is a great character for me to play, if I feel there is something interesting in the film about racism and if there is a positive outlook towards changing the mindset, I would hundred percent do it.”
She would like to do diverse, challenging roles. So does she feel socially responsible while doing a movie?Giving the example of her role as a deaf, dumb and blind girl in “Black”, she said, “I do expect that people who do not know about the deaf and blind get more aware of people like them. You should never pity them because they are such spirited, lively, fun people and there is so much to learn from them.“Michelle McNally did graduate despite her handicap. The sheer fact that if you have the passion, nothing is impossible in life. That is what my character in ‘Black’ and the film taught me and that is what I would like to portray to the hundreds and millions of my fans who watch the movie”.The festival, which opened with “Black” and “Dil Bole Hadippa” in Sydney, is screening a retrospective of Rani’s distinctive films alongside recent Bollywood hits, some regional cinema gems and documentaries.For Rani, every role is a dream role, but the role that debutant director Anurag Singh gave her in “Dil Bole Hadippa” was “wonderful”.“It is wonderful being a man and to feel like a man and get attracted to beautiful women. It was a dream role because I could never imagine in my life that I would cross dress as a man. I also got to experiment with cricket, a sport I had never played in my life. I trained for eight months and fell in love with the game. And, of course, being a man and tying your hair up in a turban was the most relaxing part!”Being a Bengali, was it difficult for her to play the role of a Sardar?“Punjabis and Bengalis make a great combination; even marriages between them are lovely,” said Rani, relating an interesting episode about how she was exchanged with a Punjabi baby at the hospital and her mother had to fight to get her back.“I still have to crack the code whether I am a Sardar or Bengali,” she said.Rani also revealed that if she weren’t an actress, she would have been “a housewife with my sari tucked in my waist, making chapattis for my husband, raising two kids probably in Allahabad or Kolkata or somewhere where my parents would have married me off!”So is she ready to direct films after a career spanning 17 years as an actress?Rani was forthcoming: “I would like to do a lot of things in life, but you never get to do everything that you want to do. When an actor probably completes 10 years, you are often asked would you like to direct or write?“I didn’t want to become an actress, but I became one and so I have this thing in my head that ‘Never say never’. It is not something I have planned, but if I do get an opportunity and have this energy rush in my body to take up the responsibility of a director some day, I would definitely love to direct.”Asked if she dreams about winning an Oscar, the multi-award winning actress said: “I would dream about everything and as an actor our greed never stops for awards, recognition, fame, and love and warmth from people; so it is a never ending process for an actor.”The actress, who chooses her roles with care and takes what inspires and excites her, is looking forward to “No one killed Jessica”, a film based on the murder of Delhi model Jessica Lall in which she plays the journalist.“It is a very different film that I am doing after a long time. It is a very different and powerful role; so I don’t know how my fans are going to react to it, but I am looking forward to it because it is an interesting movie based on a true life story.” (way2online)

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Andhra Pradesh Assembly adjourned twice

The Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned twice as the Opposition stalled the proceedings over alleged largescale irregularities in the implementation of the Centrally-sponsored Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MG-NREGS) in the state.The trouble started as soon as the House assembled for the day when Speaker N Kirankumar Reddy disallowed the adjournment motions given notice by the main Opposition TDP, CPI, CPI(M) and PRP on the issue.The Speaker assured the agitated members to fix the time for a discussion on the issue they had raised during tea-break and wanted them to cooperate by allowing the House to take up the listed questions.Chief Minister K Rosaiah made it clear that his Government was ready for a debate on the issue at a time fixed by the Speaker and wanted the Opposition to fulfill its responsibility by allowing smooth conduct of the House.As the members of various Opposition parties continued to remain on their feet and disrupted the proceedings, the Speaker first adjourned the House for 30 minutes.The situation was no different when the House reassembled with members of the Opposition parties raising slogans against the Government with placards on alleged MG-NREGS irregularities and demanding setting aside of the listed business and immediate taking up a discussion on alleged large scale misuse of funds allocated under the Centrally-sponsored scheme.The Chief Minister, Leader of House J Geeta Reddy and Legislative Affairs Minister D Prasada Rao, one after another, asked the Opposition members to allow the House to take up listed business and offered to discuss the issue raised by them at a time fixed by the Speaker during the tea-break.As Opposition parties persisted for an immediate discussion on the issue they had raised, the Speaker again adjourned the House for one hour.Earlier, the Speaker also disallowed the adjournment motions given notice by the AIMIM and BJP on the plight of Home Guards in the state. (newkerala.com)
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PRESIDENT OF INDIA,PESENTING AWARDS,

The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Award for Best Actress to Ms. Priyanka Chopra for Hindi film “Fashion”, at the 56th National Film Awards function, in New Delhi on March 19, 2010.The Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Smt. Ambika Soni is also seen.
(Photo by PIB No:CNR-30877)
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Andhra police gun down Maoist husband-wife duo

Police in Andhra Pradesh Friday gunned down a Maoist husband-wife duo in a gun battle in a forested area in Khammam district.Police said the Maoists, belonging to the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist, were killed in a gun battle in the Venkatapuram forest area in Khammam, about 300 km from here. The gunfight took place when policemen engaged in combing operations in the area came face-to-face with a group of Maoists. Police found two bodies after the exchange of fire, which lasted an hour. The Maoists have been identified as K. Pullaiah and his wife Lakshmi, both members of an armed squad of the CPI-Maoist. Police also recovered two weapons, two kit bags and party literature. Police were on alert in the area as several prominent politicians are scheduled to visit Bhadrachalam on the occasion of Ramanavmi on March 24. The combing operations were launched last Thursday after Maoists gunned down a trader on the suspicion he was acting as a police spy. The gun battle took place a week after the killing of two top Maoist leaders in two different incidents March 12. Shakhamuri Appa Rao, a member of the CPI-Maoist, was killed in Prakasam district while Solipeta Kondal Reddy, another top leader, was shot dead in Warangal district.
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Five held for threat letter to Andhra chief justice

The Hyderabad police have picked up five suspects in a case relating to a threatening letter to the chief justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Nisar Ahmed Kakru.Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters Friday that police were questioning the suspects. "A case has been registered," he said. The suspects reportedly include an advocate and two typists. The police are also looking for a man who dropped threatening a letter at the chief justice's residence in Banjara Hills neighbourhood last weekend. In the typed letter on a stamp paper, an anonymous person warned the chief justice not to say anything negative about pro-Telangana advocates. He claimed that these advocates had the support of Maoists. The letter was dropped a few days after the chief justice objected to the manner in which advocates boycotted the courts and staged protests March 8. The advocates, supporting the cause of separate Telangana state, were protesting an attack on them by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) activists. Police suspect that an advocate who participated in the protest could have written the threatening letter. They have stepped up security for the chief justice.
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Headley case points to threats from home-grown terrorists

Pointing to the David Headley case as illustrative of the “real threats from home-grown and international terrorists,” the US says it will continue working to disrupt, dismantle and defeat terrorism at home and abroad.Commending various US agencies in getting a guilty plea from Pakistani American terror suspect David Headley for his role in planning the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said:“As we have seen, we face real threats from home-grown and international terrorists.”“And we will continue working to disrupt, dismantle and defeat terrorism at home and abroad to ensure the safety and security of the American people,” she said in a statement Thursday.“I applaud the Department of Justice and the FBI for leading the effort culminating in today’s guilty plea, and I commend the men and women of US Customs and Border Protection, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the DHS Office of Intelligence & Analysis who played critical roles as part of a true interagency investigation.”Meanwhile, at the State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid discounted suggestions about India’s disgruntlement over a feeling that Headley is getting off too lightly by pleading guilty.“I wouldn’t react to reports of their disgruntlement. It’s a very large country, and I’m sure that there are a number of opinion centres in India on this issue,” he said.Noting that it is an ongoing trial, Duguid said: “What has been clear is that he has undergone a transparent and fair judicial process. And the United States Government will support the decision of our courts.”The official said he was also not aware whether the State Department has received a request for access to David Headley’s wife. (way2online)
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Headley confession not a setback: Chidambaram

Home Minister P. Chidambaram Friday said Pakistani American terror suspect David Coleman Headley’s confession that he planned the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and his deal with US prosecutors was “not a setback to India”.New Delhi, he said, would “wait and see” and continue its case to extradite or get access to him.“It is not a setback. We have not yet charged Headley. We will charge Headley at an appropriate time,” Chidambaram told reporters here.“We will continue with our extradition plea,” he said after a cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.Headley, a Pakistani born US national, has entered a deal with prosecutors in a Chicago court that he won’t be sentenced to death or extradited to India, Pakistan or Denmark after pleading guilty to terror charges. “There is a good chance that he will testify in judicial proceedings where Indian (investigators) will have a right to question him,” the home minister said.Headley Thursday pleaded guilty to a dozen federal terrorism charges in a Chicago court and admitted his role in planning the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.Headley, 49, also admitted that he attended training camps in Pakistan operated by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) on five separate occasions between 2002 and 2005. (way2online)
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Kareena is highest taxpaying actress

Kareena Kapoor has become the highest taxpayer among all actresses in Bollywood, a source said Friday.While what she paid has not been disclosed, it has been said that the 29-year-old coughed up a staggering amount to the income tax department.“Kareena is a style icon and powerhouse performer. She is distinctive and has a loyal base fan which only seems to be growing. Her increasing body of work as a star and popularity with brands reflects in the taxes she’s paid for 2009-10,” said a source.Last year, Kareena was seen in films like “Main Aurr Mrs Khanna”, “Kurbaan” and “3 Idiots”. (thanks to way2online)
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India-US Trade Policy Forum Framework Signed

(PIB NEWS) Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and US Trade Representative, Mr. Ron Kirk, has signed the India-US Trade Policy Forum Framework for Cooperation on Trade and Investment, in Washington yesterday. The Framework seeks to build on the success of the Trade Policy Forum by facilitating trade and investment flows between the United States and India. Both the Ministers also announced the launch of an initiative “Integrating U.S. and Indian Small Businesses into the Global Supply Chain.” This initiative aims to expand trade and job-creating opportunities for U.S. and Indian small and medium-sized companies. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Shri Sharma said, “By signing this Framework for Cooperation on Trade and Investment we want to create the right environment to ensure that the relationship brings maximum benefit to the maximum number of people. We will do so by promoting inclusive growth". We also intend to use this Framework to encourage the development and deployment of clean energy and environmental technologies as well as to support India's infrastructure growth. Further, we have recognized the contribution and potential of Small and Medium Enterprises in our Trade and Investment agenda by adopting the SME initiative to create fresh opportunities for small and medium enterprises in both the countries and help in integrating them in the Global supply chain." During his interaction with USTR, Shri Sharma spoke about the benefits of commencing negotiations on a Totalization Agreement and added that due to the absence of such an agreement, Indian companies in the US were making double payments of social security, without getting any benefits. He also raised the issues of visas for Indian professionals, restrictive trade measures and the need for reform of US export controls to promote high technology trade between India and the US. He also addressed a meeting of the reconstituted Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) to the Trade Policy Forum. The members of the PSAG were tasked to work as implementing partners for initiatives undertaken by the Trade Policy Forum, including the new small business initiative  In a meeting with US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the two Ministers discussed cooperation in the field of agriculture that could be leveraged to strengthen agricultural productivity, and promote agro based industry in India. Later in the evening, Shri Sharma addressed the Brookings Institution on “Asia’s Unfolding Economic Saga – an Indian perspective”. The Minister spoke about the transformation of the global economy, the rise of Asian economies and concluded that their growth did not threaten any other country; on the contrary; this was good for world prosperity and financial stability.
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Students from J&K meet Chidambaram

(PIB NEWS) A group of 44 students from Jammu & Kashmir called on the Union Home Minister, Shri P.Chidambaram here today. The students are on a tour, sponsored by the CRPF and have already visited Mathura, Agra, Jaipur and Ajmer.Interacting with the students, the Union Home Minister said that peace is necessary for the developmental process to gain the required momentum in J&K. If peace prevails in the State, everything that is available in other parts of the country in terms of development can be made available in J&K. Shri Chidambaram urged the students to look at the entire country and not just at J&K for job opportunities. He said that Central Para Military Forces are going to recruit about 2,000 youth in J&K this year.
DG CRPF Shri Vikram Srivastava was present during the  interaction. ======================================================

Chetana Sachivalaya Saraswathi Vedika Felicited to Sri Raavi Kondal Rao

On the ocassion of Ugadi Kavi sammelan famous telugu film writerand producer Mr Raavi Kondal Rao is felicitated by Chetana Sachivalaya Saraswathi Vedika in photo Smt S. Rama Devi Additional Seceretary BC  Welfare ,Smt M Rajyasri(President Chetana) are also seen, (photoby RSJ Thomas) ======================================================

Justice Srikrishna Committee on Telangana meets in New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 18: The five members of Justice Srikrishna Committee, convened by the Union Government to resolve the statehood issue of Telangana in Andhra Pradesh, held a routine meeting in the national capital on Thursday.The members discussed their varied observations and also assessed the steps taken on the issue so far, while a deputation of the Telangana Congress Monitoring Group (TCMG) made its presence felt on the scene to submit a memorandum in support of separate Telangana state.Holding banners, the TCMG members staged a mini demonstration and raised slogans for their cause outside Vigyan Bhavan from where the Justice Srikrishna Committee functions."Telangana case has been examined, over-examined, evaluated, over evaluated, thoroughly reported and only to be deceived. At this juncture keeping the anguish and sensitised environment of four crore people of Telangana, the Union Government is kind enough to constitute a committee, consisting of vital personalities like Justice Srikrishna and V. K. Duggal with three other members," said Praful Anand Baxi, a member of the TCMG.The TCMG activists displayed the 111-page report that they had submitted to the Justice Srikrishna Committee.The extensive report contains views, directions, and suggestions of veteran personalities and expert subgroup, which are routing for a separate state."We are here to express, to carry the message of Telangana people, to carry the message of Telangana Congress persons. We are here in an organised form, we have tried to present our case in a document of 111 pages," Baxi added.This is for the third time that panel headed by Justice B N Srikrishna has met in New Delhi.Earlier, the committee met on February 13 and issued a public notice inviting political parties and organisations to give their views on the issue of a separate state.Initially, several political outfits were not in favour of the panel, but now most of them are with the panel and have sent their respective views to it.The seven-point term of reference announced by the Union Government on February 12 has mandated the Justice Srikrishna Committee to 'examine the situation in Andhra Pradesh with reference to the demand for a separate state of Telangana as well as the demand for maintaining the present status of united Andhra'.The committee was constituted by the government on February 3, nearly two months after it had announced that steps have been initiated for the formation of a separate state of Telangana,
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Andhra resolves to protect jobs for Hyderabad locals

Hyderabad, March 18: In a moral victory for protagonists of a separate Telangana, the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly Thursday passed a resolution seeking an amendment to a Presidential Order to protect jobs for Telangana people in the police department in Hyderabad.The one-line resolution moved by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah was unanimously passed with a voice vote amid protests by the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP). Deputy Speaker N. Manohan adjourned the house after announcing that the resolution was passed with a voice vote. Opposing the resolution, PRP legislators rushed to the podium demanding a debate. Legislators of the ruling Congress and main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) did not oppose the resolution. The resolution is being seen as a moral victory of Telangana protagonists, who complain of injustice to people of the region in appointments to government jobs. Earlier, the chief minister had to convince the ruling Congress legislators from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions not to oppose the resolution as his predecessor Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had taken a decision to oppose Hyderabad as a free zone. Through the resolution, the assembly has urged the union home ministry to seek the president's assent for amendment to clause 14 F of the Presidential Ordinance of 1975. The amendment will ensure that Hyderabad remains part of the sixth zone along with other Telangana districts for recruitment to the police department. The resolution was passed to overcome a Supreme Court judgment declaring Hyderabad as free zone for recruitment to the police department. This means that people from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions can also be recruited in the police department in Hyderabad. The judgment evoked sharp reaction from legislators cutting across party lines and they demanded amendment to protect the interests of the Telangana people. An all-party meeting convened by the chief minister Wednesday evening had agreed to the demand for passing the resolution. The decision came a day after the Supreme Court refused to admit a petition of the state government, seeking a review of its earlier order declaring Hyderabad a free zone for recruitment in the police department. Meanwhile, Congress MP from Vijayawada L. Rajagopal met Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan to oppose amendment to the Presidential Order. Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao, who had revived the movement for separate statehood to Telangana following the Supreme Court order last year, had warned the government of serious consequences if it failed to protect the interests of Telangana people. In October last year, the Supreme Court declared that Hyderabad was not a part of Telangana but a free zone as far as recruitments and postings in government were concerned. Telangana, which comprises 10 districts, including Hyderabad, was merged with then Andhra State in 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh. But the people of Telangana were given certain safeguards in appointments under the Gentlemen's Agreement of 1956 and a subsequent Presidential Order and six-point formula. The latest judgment comes at a time when a five-member committee headed by Justice Srikrishna is looking into the issue of statehood for Telangana. (thanks to way2online)
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No homeless poor in Maharashtra by 2012: Governor

No poor person in Maharashtra will remain homeless by 2012, according to an ambitious target set by the government which plans to construct 735,000 houses for the poor in three years.Governor K. Sankaranarayanan, addressing a joint sitting of the state legislature Thursday, said the government had taken the decision to provide the houses in the golden jubilee year of the state’s formation.“Once the scheme is implemented, no family below poverty line in the state will remain homeless,” Sankaranarayanan said.The carpet area of each such tenement for the BPL population would be 269 sq ft, costing Rs.70,000 each. Of this, the government will provide a subsidy of Rs.68,500, while the rest – Rs.1,500 only – would be the share of the beneficiary, he said.So far, the government has constructed 96,058 tenements at a cost of Rs.5.5 billion.Besides, the government will construct 75,000 houses for Scheduled Castes and neo-Buddhists and 70,000 houses for tribal families each year, he added.In addition, the state has taken up a programme to construct 273,905 homes for the urban poor.With a view to making Mumbai slum-free, the government gas constructed 114,550 tenements for slum dwellers under 612 projects. Another 2,517 project proposals have been received, of which 1,318 have been approved for implementation, he said.“The government will wholeheartedly participate in the Rajiv Awas Yojana (which aims at slum free India) and is committed to make Maharashtra slum free,” the governor said, (thanks to way2online)
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Telugu New Year ‘Ugadi’ celebrated with gaiety

People offered special prayers, decorated their houses and shops with mango leaves and tasted a bit of the traditional sweet-sour ‘Ugadi pacchadi’ as Ugadi, the Telugu New Year, was celebrated across Andhra Pradesh Tuesday.Thousands of devotees thronged temples to pray for happiness and prosperity in the New Year. Special prayers were held at the Tirumala, Srisailam and Vijayawada temples.People customarily taste a bit of the ‘Ugadi pacchadi’, a mixture of neem buds, raw mango, tamarind juice, pepper, jaggery and salt. The mixture symbolises that life is a mixture of bitter-sweet experiences which should be accepted together and with equanimity.
People also attended special functions where the priests read out the ‘panchangnam’ or religious almanac of the coming year. Literary discussions, poetry recitations, recognition of authors through awards and cultural programmes also marked the day.Like every year, the state government organised an official function ‘panchangna sarvanam’, at Ravindra Bharati in the state capital, where an ‘agma’ pundit read out the religious almanac of the coming year. He forecast that the coming year would bring prosperity for the state and its people.Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and some of his cabinet colleagues attended the main celebrations and tasted the sweet-sour ‘Ugadi pacchadi’.Rosaiah said he was praying for the well-being and prosperity of the people of the state.“I hope that the coming year would bring happiness to the state in all sectors. There will be sufficient rains and bumper crop and industrial sector will perform better than last year,” he sai The chief minister said his government was trying to plug the loopholes in the development and welfare of the state and its people.Many people noted that the last year was one of the worst years as the state lost chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash in September, followed by unprecedented floods in Krishna river and agitation over the demand for separate statehood to the Telangana region.Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu attended a ‘panchangna sarvanam’ held at NTR Trust Bhavan, the party headquarters. Similar functions were also held at the office of the ruling Congress party and offices of the Bharatiya Janata Party (PRP) and Praja Rajyam Party (PRP).
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Azad exhorts young doctors for rural services

The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad releasing the Annual Report at the 94th Annual Day and Convocation of Lady Harding Medical College, in New Delhi on March 17, 2010.
(Photo by PIB No.CNR-30838)
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(PIB NEWS) The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad has exhorted young doctors to take advantage of new measures for incentivizing rural services by doctors. Speaking at the 94th Annual Day and Convocation of Lady Harding Medical College here today, Shri Azad pointed out that by simply rationalizing the teacher student ratio from 1:1 to 1:2 additional 2800 Post Graduate seats will be added to the system from this academic year itself. ‘I invite the young graduating doctors and specialists to join hand with Government and come forward to serve in the rural areas where the real India lives’, Shri Azad said.Shri Azad emphasised that some options like generating the rural health manpower, distance learning, family medicine courses and a rural health cadre are required for scaling up the human health resources in rural areas to desired levels. He assured doctors that they will not get frustrated as Government is making the Primary Health Care System fully functional in terms of buildings, equipments, medicines, diagnostics and human resources. The Minister outlined various reforms in Medical Education such as rationalization of land requirement, teacher student ratio, upgradation of State Government Medical Colleges and additional weightage to be given in Post Graduate Entrance Examination for years devoted to rural services. Speaking in the exclusive Women Medical College Shri Azad said that it is only apt that his first engagement after passage of Women Reservation Bill in Rajya Sabha was in Lady Harding College. He said that once the Bill becomes reality India will go to general poll in the year 2014 which also happens to be Centenary Year of the College. The Minister also told the gathering about Rs.387 crore redevelopment plan of the Institution. The strength of Under Graduate seats would also be increased from 127 to 200 and Post Graduate from 70 to 130. The redevelopment would be done in next two years time, Shri Azad said.
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CM holds all-party meet to discuss SC ruling on 'free zone'

Hyderabad, Mar 17 : An all-party meeting began here this evening to discuss the Supreme Court's yesterday's ruling, declaring Hyderabad a 'free zone' for recruitment to government jobs under the Zoning System of the Presidential Order of 1975, and evolve a consensus on the future course of action.

Ahead of the all-party meet, Telangana Rashtra Samiti President K Chandrasekar Rao pressed for adoption of a resolution in the state Assembly, urging the Centre to bring in a bill to amend the Constitution to circumvent the ruling of the Supreme Court.The Apex Court had rejected the state government's Special Leave Petition against its order of October 9, 2009, which ruled Hyderabad as a 'free zone' on matters of employment. Leaders of the other Opposition parties, including the TDP, BJP, CPI, and CPI-M, wanted the Chief Minister to lead a delegation to New Delhi to impress upon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for treating Hyderabad as part of Zone VI under the 'zoning system' evolved by the Presidential Order.
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Andhra Pradesh Assembly stalled over SC ruling on 'free zone'

Hyderabad, Mar 17 : The Supreme Court ruling on the issuance of 'free zone' led to angry exchanges between the ruling Congress and Opposition parties, adjournment of the Andhra Pradesh Assemblyh for over 15 minutes and expunction of certain remarks made by CPI floor leader G Mallesh.The trouble started as soon as the House assembled for the day when Speaker N Kirankumar Reddy announced that he was disallowing the adjournment motion notices by the TDP, CPI, CPI(M) and the BJP on the issue. Pressing for adoption of a House resolution urging the Centre to amend the Constitution to circumvent the Supreme court ruling, TDP members from Telangana region rushed towards the Speaker's podium.After repeated appeals, the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes. When the House reassembled, Chief Minister K Rosaiah, intervening in view of the importance of the issue, announced that ''Hyderabad is very much part of the VI zone on matters of employment. It is not proper to discuss the sensitive issue which is before the Supreme Court. Let us evolve a consensus on the future course of action at an all-party meeting outside the House later today.'' Later, the Chief Minister offered to quit his post if he had stated that the matter was ''subjudice'' as claimed by senior TDP legislator N Janardhan Reddy and challenged him whether he was ready to do so. The House plunged into pandemonium for sometime as several Congress legislators, including ministers, were on their feet, arguing with Opposition party legislators on the issue. The Chief Minister pacified the Opposition members, saying, ''The Government will have no objection to adopt a resolution if all the parties wanted it.'' Following this, the House then took up questions listed for the day.The Speaker expunged certain objectionable references made by CPI floor leader G Mallesh on the ongoing stir for separate Telangana state, while pressing for a House resolution for protecting the interests of people of Telangana region on employment.
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Hyderabad will be a free zone: SC

New Delhi, Mar 17: The Supreme Court has said that Hyderabad will be a 'free zone' where people from any part of Andhra Pradesh can compete in police and government jobs.The verdict came against a review petition filed by the AP government.In a terse order, the SC said: ""We have perused the review petitions and record of the civil appeals and are convinced that the judgment for which review has been sought does not suffer from any error apparent warranting its reconsideration. Hence, the review petitions are dismissed."On October 9, 2009, the apex court said people from all parts of AP have equal rights in government jobs, postings and promotions. The state government filed a review petition against the ruling saying the decision will add fuel to the ongoing movement for a separate Telangana state.
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Fraudster impersonting as ACB official held.

Hyderabad,Mar.17: The City Police has arrested a fraudster impersonating as ACB official for trying to extort huge amount from the Government officials of various departments by threatening them.According to police, the accused Bathula Sai Rahul alias Rahul, Arvind,Bhaskar procured one cell phone with two SIM cards and obtained details and phone numbers of the Government Officials of various departments through Internet websites. He used to contact Government officials posing as ACB Official and threaten the officials saying that they were indulge in corrupt practices and these were recorded in the CD's by spy Cameras. He demanded huge money for handing over the CD's to them. The Central Zone Task Force team apprehended the accused yesterday, police said.
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Andhra assembly to move to protect jobs for locals in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, March 17 : The Andhra Pradesh assembly will Thursday pass a resolution urging the central government to bring an amendment to the Presidential Order to protect jobs for the Telangana people in Hyderabad.

At an all-party meet convened Wednesday evening to discuss the Supreme Court's refusal to review its order declaring Hyderabad a "free zone" for recruitments in government jobs, the Congress government agreed to bring the resolution. Leaders of all the parties were unanimous that the relevant paragraph of the Presidential Order relating to jobs for locals in Hyderabad should be amended to set aside the court order. Minister for Information and Public Relations Geeta Reddy told reporters after the meeting that the resolution would be sent to the central government and the home ministry would refer it to the Indian president. The decision came a day after the Supreme Court refused to admit a petition of the state government, seeking a review of its earlier order declaring Hyderabad a free zone for recruitments in police department. Earlier, opposition parties stalled the proceedings of the state assembly over the issue, forcing Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to invite an all-party meeting to discuss future course of action. Rosaiah told the assembly that he had no objection to passing a resolution urging the central government to bring an amendment to set aside the Supreme Court order. "Hyderabad is part of sixth zone and not a free zone. Nobody needs to have any doubts over this," Rosaiah told the agitated members. He said the issue was sensitive and in Supreme Court and hence could not be discussed in an open house. Later, Congress MPs from Telangana urged Rosaiah to pass a resolution in the assembly. Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao, who had revived movement for separate statehood to Telangana following the Supreme Court order last year, warned the government of serious consequences if it failed to protect the interests of Telangana people. In October last year, the Supreme Court had declared that Hyderabad was not a part of Telangana but a free zone as far as recruitments and postings in government were concerned. This would mean that people from all parts of the state would have equal rights in jobs, postings and promotions in Hyderabad. People of Telangana had so far been enjoying local area status here with 70 percent quota in government jobs all these years. Hyderabad had remained part of sixth zone along with Ranga Reddy, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Medak districts of Telangana. Telangana, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad, was merged with then Andhra State in 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh. But the people of Telangana were given certain safeguards in appointments under the Gentlemen's Agreement of 1956 and a subsequent Presidential Order and six point formula.
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